Electric switch means



March 3, 1959 1.. H. FLOCKEN 2,876,302

ELECTRIC vSWEFQH MEANS Filed May 15, 1957 I V EN TOR. @222 M27064 Q0%// XM/ HZZZ/Wey United States Patent ELECTRIC SWITCH MEANS Linton 1r, Flocken, Chicago, 111., a' s'signor to )ak Mfg. "Cit, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 13, 1957, Serial No; 658,571 Claims. (c1. 200-5 home to a predetermined rest position. Thus as an example a switch embodying the present invention may be used in connection with an electrical windshield wiper for antomobiles, buses and the like. It is desirable, in this case of an electric windshield wiper, to have a home or rest wiper position irrespective of the main switch control for turning the wiperofi.

The above example of the adaptation of the switch embodying the present invention is for purposes of explanation and not by way of limitation.

In order that the i'riven "on may be understood, it will now be explained in eonneetien with the drawings wherein an exemplary embodiment is illustrated. It is understood however that variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 shows a view from one side thereof of the new switch embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the switch illustrated in Figure 1, this figure also showing a homing cam.

Figure 3 is a side elevation from a different side of the switch illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional detail on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the other side of the switch.

As illustrated here, the switch has one stationary insulating member having apertured wing portions 11 and 12 for use in mounting the switch. Resting against insulating member 10 is additional insulating member 14, the two insulating members being rigidly joined as by rivets 15 and 16. The two members of insulating material may be readily replaced by a single thickness of material if desired.

Insulating members 10 and 14 are provided with suitable apertures in which is secured rotor of insulating material. Rotor 20 supports a plurality of fiat rotor contacts 22 and 23 having any desired angular extent and having a desired shape for securing switch action. Cooperating with the rotor contacts are a number of stator contacts 25 to inclusive. This general type of switch is well known and is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,186,949. Any other desired type of rotary switch may be used.

It is clear that thestator and rotor contacts so far described constitute one group of contacts which may be operated by some common manual or other means. Thus for example rotor 20 is turned by shaft 32 extending through an aperture in the rotor, the shaft preferably having a non-circular cross section where it passes through 2,876,302 Patented Mar. 3, 1 959 "ice the rotor for rotational coupling" thereto. Shaft 32 passes through sleeve 33 rigidly supported on mounting bracket 35. Mounting bracket 35 has Wing portions 36 and 37 suitably apertured to register with the apertured wing portions of insulating member 10. Rigidly attached to shaft 32 is index finger 39 which adapted to cooper ate with index plate 40 having suitable index regions 41. The shaft and rotor may be turned by any suitable means such as knob 43 as an example.

The switch so far described is conventional except for at least one of the stationary contacts. Referring for example to stationary contact 27, eyelet 45 retaining stationary contact 27 in position upon stator members 10 and 14 is provided with in 46 passing. through the eyelet. Pin 46 is'lon'gitudinally movable'throngh a small range and carries washer 47 at one end thereof for retaining coil spring 48 in position around the pin. Coil spring 48 is disposed between stationary contact 27 and washer 47 and serves to urge pin 46 downwardly as seen in Figure 4.

The free face of insulating member 10'this is the face away from the stationary contacts-carries additional stationary contact 50. Stationary contact 50, unlike the other stationary contacts, has an extensive surface and is adapted to be maintained in position upon insulating plate 10 by means of one or more rivets 51/ Rivets 51 may be the same as is used for supporting stationary contact 25 in position. Stationary contact 50 is here illustrated as extending beneath wing portion 36 of the bracket and may be retained in position by eyelet 15 or may be clamped between the insulator and the bracket. In this particular construction it is clear that stationary contact 50 is electrically connected to bracket 35 and may therefore be used as a ground contact.

Stationary contact 50 has aperture 53 which is concentric with but clears eyelet 45 of stationary contact 27, the aperture in contact 50 being large enough so that stationary contact 50 and eyelet 45 are electrically insulated from each other. Electrical contact between stationary contacts 27 and 50 may be effected by means carried by pin 46. As an example, pin 46 may carry at end 55 a generally T-shaped movable contact 56 having contact tips 57 which will engage the part of stationary contact 50 immediately beyond aperture 53.

In the normal rest position, which is shown in full lines in Figure 4, spring 48 urges pin 46 to provide good electrical contact between stationary contacts 27 and 50. Assuming that it is desired to stop a windshield wiper motor, knob 43 may be turned to the appropriate ofi position. The windshield wiper motor has associated therewith cam or other similar means 60 having rise 61 which is adapted to cooperate with the bottom end of pin 46. When cam 60 is in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 2, pin 46 will 'be raised to the dotted line position illustrated in Figure 4 and the circuit for the motor may be opened. Thus the windshield wiper motor or other device will be free to assume a home position and shut itself off. Cam 60 will be driven during motor operation but the switch controlled by the cam will be ineffective in the on or run position of knob 43.

When starting the windshield wiper motor, knob 43 i is turned to the appropriate position and the open circuit due to the raised position of pin 46 as seen in Figure 4 may be completed by other auxiliary switches.

If desired, a metal sleeve longer than eyelet 45 may be provided so that a stronger support for pin 46 is present. Variations of the contact structure operated by pin 46 may be provided and the pin itself may be electrically distinct from the contact portion 55 and this contact portion 55 may be used to bridge across two separate contacts formed by dividing stationary contact 50 into two separate parts.

Movable contact 56, cooperating with stationary contacts 50 and 27 forms a second or additional switch which is mechanically independent of the first switching means having rotor and stator portions. In the structure illustrated, a second or additional switch is mounted upon the stator portion. Under certain conditions it may be desirable to mount the additional switch upon the rotor portion.

Instead of having a rotary switch, it is possible to provide switches wherein the movable contacts move in straight lines as illustrated for example in United States Patent No. 2,196,433. Thus the stator of the first switch may be replaced by one insulating member carrying a number of contacts. The rotor may be replaced by a second insulating member carrying cooperating contacts.

The additional switch may be mounted upon one or the other of the insulating members. It is understood that a plurality of additional switches may be provided, one or more being on one insulating member and others being mounted on the other or both insulating members may carry additional switches.

In all cases, the additional switch or switches will be wired with the first switching means so that the additional switches may be controlled by a machine or the like with the first switching means functioning as the main control.

What is claimed is:

1. Electric switching means comprising a flat insulating plate carrying a plurality of stationary contacts comprising a contact group on one side of said plate, at least one movable contact member for cooperation with said group of stationary contacts, a stationary contact member on the other side of the plate opposite one of said group contacts, a metal bushing carried by and extending through said plate and electrically connected to said one stationary group contact and being insulated from the stationary contact member, a movable bridging contact for electrically connecting said bushing and said stationary contact member and a push rod passing through said bushing for moving said bridging contact, said push rod and movable contact member being independently movable and said bridging contact being movable out of contact with said stationary contact member.

2. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said contacts forming said contact group are disposed upon the arc of a circle and wherein said movable contact member is mounted for rotation.

3. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said metal bushing is in the form of an eyelet and wherein said stationary contact member is a flat plate having a clearance opening for said eyelet.

4. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said bridging contact and said push rod are integral, and spring means for biasing said push rod to one position.

5. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said group of contacts are arranged in a circular pattern with said movable contact being rotatable, said metal bushing being an eyelet for holding said one stationary group contact upon said insulating plate, said push rod being movable longitudinally and carrying the bridging contact at one end thereof, said bridging contact in one push rod position engaging such stationary contact member and in another push rod position clearing said stationary contact member.

Allison et al Jan. 16, 1940 Sensinger Mar. 13, 1951 

